Wagon-box end gate



J. K. FRANCE AGON BOX END GATE Filed Jan. '7. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllllllllllllllllilll INVENTBR James if. I)? nae.

Jan. 24, 1928.

J. K. FRANCE WAGON BOX END GATE Filed Jan. 7. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTEJQ Jamas if. France- Af/omey Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

PATENT JAMESKEITH FRANCE, OF SHAMRQUK, SASKATCHET-J'AN CANADA.

WAGON-BOX nnn earn.

Application filed January 7, 1926. Serial No. 79,799.

lrfy present invention relates to improve ments in a wagon box end gate appertaining more particularly to a locking device therefor.

An object of this recent invention is to provide a locking device of this kind that cannot work loose with the jolting of the Wagon but, on the other hand, the fastening lever automatically tightens when moved into operative posit-ion and is there releasably but securely held.

l A further object of the provision of such an end gate and fastening means is that the gate is positively prevented from working loose or sagging.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention can be bestdescribed and most readily understood when reference is had to the drawings of the preferred'embodiment of the invention and in which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several. views.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved end gate.

"Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections through the end gate showing the fastening means with looking lever retained by the spring keeper and moved into and out of'locking position respectively. I

In a grain wagon box especially there is need of having a leak proof end gate for an inestimable loss of grain occurs annually from loose or inefiective end closures.

To overcome this unnecessary waste my invention comprises an end gate formed of two sections hinged together with a tongue piece applied rigidly to one of these sections and adapted to overlap and extend 1ongitudinally of the other section on which is mounted a fastener to lock the tongue. The usual pair of vertical guide strips are provided near the back end and 011 the inside of the side walls of the wagon box between which the ends of my improved gate are designed to engage.

Reference is now had particularly to the attached drawings wherein is shown a wagon 5 with a box 6 of conventional design. fit the rear end of the inside of each of the side walls of the box are provided a spaced pair of upright guides 7 between which the end gate 8 engages.

Thegate is shown as comprising two sections 9 and 10 hinged together on the inside as at 11. A. tongue 12 is mounted rigidly on the former gate section 9 and extends over the hing-ed end thereof to overlie and extend longitudinally of the outer face of the latter end gate section 10.

The feature of this inventionis the loclo ing means, the preferred embodiment of which is here disclosed as including a spring keeper 1% and a fixed or rigidstop member 15, these arranged in vertical align ment with the former uppermost. These parts in the order noted are mounted on the tongue 12 near the free end thereof by nuts and bolts 16 or other suitable means. Though the stop piece 15 comprises but a single piece of sheet metal, it may comprise spring steel of the like doubled on itself to form an abutment with theupp-er or stop surface 1'? horizontal and the lower side 18 inclined as a brace withthe ends of both top and bottom sides of such abutment bent to laterally engage the tongue 12 to which it is secured by the bolt- 16 through the straight end of the lowerpart. The spring keeper l will preferably be formed of a back plate 19, through which the fastening bolt 16 passes, and thespring lock orkeeper element 20, substantially L-shaped. The inturned upper end 21 of this spring element is tucked under the top edge of the back plate 19 and there fastened to it. continues downwardly therefrom and an gularly to the said back plate, that is applied laterally to the tongue, bends at an acute angle to make the stop or retaining wall 22 that confronts the upper horizontal surface of stop 15, being spaced from and parallel thereto. This inturned end 22 extends into a seat or cavity 23 cut through the tongue 12 and into the gate member 10 and, as it has been found best in practice to form the stop member 15 and back plate 19 unitary, entrance to the cavity 23 will be through this member.

she fastening bar 9A- is pivoted at 25, to the gate member 10, parallel with the pocket between the bottom of the spring finger 14 and the stop 15. The end 26 of this locking bar 24 is offset laterally from the end gate to give clearance from the tongue and to enable the lever to better ride up on the It then spring finger 14; to depress the same when passing into locking position and to permitof the operator getting a grip thereon to pivot the same either into or out of position.

As will be seen on reference to Fig. 3, the space between the horizontal inturned end of the spring finger 14 and the top stop surface of the stop member 15 is ample to accommodate the lever arm 2-1 that in locked position is normally held therein. It is further obvious that to release such lock arm the spring finger 1d must be depressed, this being done manually.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest. that a wagon box end gate is provided which will fulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device, but as many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invens tion constructed Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. In a, wagon box end gate formed of two sections hinged together with a tongue rigidly applied to one of said sections, designed to overlie and extend longitudinally of the secondof said sections, said tongue having a cavity therein near the free end, a lock therefor comprising a stop member formed of a plate applied rigidly to said tongue, the same having a stop projecting laterally from the said tongue; said plate having perforations therethrough centrally of the ends thereof, an L-shaped spring wardly therefrom to a position in line with said perforation Where it bends acutely to en ter said cavity through sa1d perforation, and a fastemng lever plvotally mounted on the second of said gate sections and designed,

when in locked position, to be releasably held between the confronting sides of said spring member and said stop member.

2. A wagonbox end gate formed of two sections hinged together with a tongue rigidly applied to one of said sections and designed to overlie and extend longitudinally of the second of said sections; a spring keeper carried on said tongue and having outwardly projecting portions of substantially V-shaped form with its top surface extending in a horizontal plane audits lower side inclined; said spring keeper, said tongue and the-second mentioned gate section havting registering openings immediately above said outwardly projecting portionswof the spring keeper; :1 spring lock having one end secured at the upper end of said spring kceperwhile its main portion is curved out u'ardly and downwardly and its lower end bent at an angle for operating in said registering openings; and a. locking bar pivoted on said second mentioned gate section and adapted to ride orecthc main portion of said-spring lock and press the latter inwardly until released by the locking bar sliding oil the main portion thereof and seating automatically in its operative position between the said horizontal upper face of the outwardly extended portion of the springlreepe and the free turned lower end of said spring lock,

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

JA MES KEITH FR :LNCF. 

